logo
episode-header-image
Feb 2024
28m 58s

How to manage multiple agendas — includi...

TED
About this episode

Have you ever been caught in the middle of a tricky work dynamic, struggling to please everyone? Sometimes, the only solution is to realize it’s not your job to fix everything. This week, Anne and Frances talk to a listener who’s struggling to manage relationships with multiple bosses with competing priorities. Together, they chart a path for this superstar employee to make it clear she can’t solve every problem while also safeguarding her career.

Transcripts for Fixable are available at go.ted.com/fixablescripts.

For the full text transcript, visit ted.com/podcasts/fixable-transcripts


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Yesterday
Friction 101: How to make the right things easier and wrong things harder (w/ Bob Sutton and Huggy Rao) (re-release)
Do you feel like you’re hitting a wall at work? This week, Anne and Frances are joined by Master Fixers Bob Sutton and Huggy Rao. Bob and Huggy are professors at Stanford University and authors of “The Friction Project: How Smart Leaders Make the Right Things Easier and the Wrong ... Show More
37m 12s
Jun 29
Finding Purpose: Why purpose is the answer to uncertainty and anxiety (w/ Arun Gupta)
Work today is a lot less stable than it used to be. Career paths that once seemed predictable are constantly being disrupted and reshaped, leaving many of us feeling unsteady. In this final episode of the Finding Purpose series, Anne and Frances are joined by Arun Gupta, CEO of t ... Show More
50m 53s
Jun 22
Finding Purpose: How to defend your values (w/ Yara Shahidi & Keri Salter)
In a world that won’t stop changing, knowing what matters most can make all the difference. Yara Shahidi and Keri Salter are a mother-daughter duo building a more inclusive and imaginative Hollywood through their production company, 7th Sun Productions. In this episode, Anne sits ... Show More
35m 9s
Recommended Episodes
Sep 2025
Quick Fixes: How to level up, job craft, and manage colleagues you can’t stand | Fixable
In this Quick Fixes episode, Anne and Frances work to solve three different callers’ tricky work problems in under 20 minutes. One listener searches for the best way to level up his small business, the next plans to approach their manager about a dramatic role change, and a final ... Show More
19m 19s
Apr 2025
Sunday Pick: How to mix business and family | Fixable
What to do when your boss is your father-in-law, your colleague is your cousin, and your business partner is also your life partner? In the last episode of the season, Anne and Frances help a frustrated listener discover new ways to help her family business bounce back. She strug ... Show More
33m 39s
Mar 2024
How to outsmart bias at work | Fixable
Have you ever felt like something about your identity was getting in the way of your success? On this episode of Fixable, another podcast from the TED Audio Collective, a listener needs help pushing through the resistance she's facing as a woman navigating a male-dominated workpl ... Show More
36m 11s
May 2023
Fixable: Nai’a - "How do I get the attention of a distracted manager?"
Nai’a is a product operations manager at an education technology company that has gone through a major restructuring. With a shifting team and a brand new manager, she struggles to make sure her colleagues recognize the value of her work and what she needs to continue achieving s ... Show More
27m 33s
May 2020
Challenging the Boss
Do you fear speaking frankly with your supervisor? Dan and Alison answer your questions with the help of Liz Kislik, a management consultant and executive coach. They talk through what to do when your boss micromanages your output, you want to set boundaries for better work-life ... Show More
35m 10s
May 2023
Fixable: Teresa - "How do I move fast without breaking things?"
Teresa is the head of strategy at a small food startup, and she's having trouble balancing her desire to think things through with the fast-paced decision-making her role requires. After she shares stories of the collateral damage from the startup’s quick choices, Anne and France ... Show More
28m 4s
Oct 2019
Heavy Workloads
Do you or your team have way too much to do? Dan and Alison answer your questions with the help of Amy Jen Su, an executive coach and author. They talk through what to do when you’re struggling to get things done at a new job, a coworker is stressed about their work, or you and y ... Show More
34m 16s
Jul 2023
How to climb out of overwhelm at work
How do we maintain healthy workloads while meeting customer demands and while resources are constrained? In this episode, Rachel explores 4 ways to manage the overwhelm.Modern Mentor is hosted by Rachel Cooke. A transcript is available at Simplecast.Have a question for Modern Men ... Show More
8m 41s
Sep 2022
It's Not Me, It's YOU!
Let’s be honest—sometimes other people are just a pain in the a**. In this week’s show, Mary and Chris address a myriad of listeners’ challenges in navigating difficult colleagues and situations. Feeling Like a Highschooler in Scottsdale is being iced out by her colleagues. They ... Show More
34m 33s